On the afternoon of Wednesday, February 11, 2026, the historic and venerable Parish of the Annunciation of the Theotokos welcomed teachers instructing the Orthodox religious course in schools throughout the province of Antwerp.
With the blessing of Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium, an evening gathering was organized to foster relationships among the teachers in the region under the local church.
The teaching of the Orthodox religious course stems from the official recognition of the Orthodox Church as one of the six recognized religions of the Belgian state by royal decree in 1985. According to this decree, primary and secondary public schools must offer the Orthodox curriculum during designated Religious Education hours. If more than two students in a public school choose the Orthodox course, the school administration must contact the Holy Metropolis of Belgium, the representative body of the Orthodox Church in Belgium, and its head, the current Metropolitan of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The Metropolis proposes teachers for the course through a pedagogical committee of specialists who evaluate candidates. Eligible candidates include graduates of officially recognized higher education institutions, such as theological schools or institutions that provide pedagogical qualifications, as well as graduates of the Orthodox Theological Institute of the Metropolis, “Apostle Paul,” who have sufficient knowledge of one of Belgium’s three official languages: French, Dutch, or German.
The evening began with the Small Supplication service to the Theotokos, followed by a lecture titled “From the Theology of the Church Fathers to the Teaching of the Course in Schools,” delivered by Protopresbyter Dominique Verbeke of the Ecumenical Throne.
Before the lecture, Metropolitan Athenagoras welcomed the teachers and thanked them for their service and dedication to the schools in the region. He emphasized the importance of maintaining the teaching of the course as an opportunity for ministry and congratulated the parish on the beautiful initiative of organizing the evening.
During his lecture, the main speaker highlighted the richness of the patristic tradition, as well as what the great saints and ecclesiastical writers have bequeathed to us. He also discussed the adaptation of the faith’s messages, which originated from the profound theological thought of the Fathers, for 21st-century students. Through modern teaching methods, the Gospel’s message, passed down by the Holy Fathers from the early centuries to the present day, can foster faith and the universal values of Christianity in contemporary children, promoting balance and moderation.
After the lecture, there was a lively discussion. At the end, the inspector of the Orthodox religious course in Flanders, Mr. Philippe de Bruyn, made some practical announcements. A reception at the church’s parish center followed.
Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou
